Electronic apparatus, system and charging method thereof

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0001Field of Invention

0002The present invention generally relates to an electronic apparatus, and more particularly to a charging system and method for the electronic apparatus.

0003Description of Prior Art

0004Along with the rapid development of science and technology at the present, hand-held electronic apparatus (such as mobile phone, tablet computer, and notebook) are widespread used. Since almost all of the hand-held electronic apparatus operate base on a power from battery. It is important to provide a convenience charging method to charge the batteries of the electronic apparatus for keeping the electronic apparatus in use.

0005Wireless charging is one of the most popular topics for a hand-help apparatus recently. It can make the hand-help apparatus to have battery charging without any cable. In prior art, wireless charging system uses a magnetic induction technology which has two coils. One of the coils is used to be a transmitter, and another one is used to be a receiver. A current flows through the transmitter for generating a magnetic field which can induce a current or a voltage in the receiver. The current or voltage in the receiver can be converted to a charging power to charge a battery in the hand-help apparatus.

0006However, the coil in the receiver of the hand-help electronic apparatus is not easy to implement due to the dimension and some design limitations. A large area on the hand-help electronic apparatus for disposing the coil is needed, and a slim form factor design is difficult for the hand-help electronic apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0007The present invention provides an electronic apparatus and system, and the electronic apparatus is able to have metallic and slim form factor design.

0008The present invention provides a charging method for the apparatus, and the electronic apparatus is able to have metallic and slim form factor design.

0009The electronic apparatus includes an antenna, a switch, a power generator, a battery, and a controller. The antenna receives a wireless signal. The switch is coupled to the antenna, and receives the wireless signal. The switch transports the wireless signal to a first terminal or a second terminal according to a mode selecting signal. The power generator is coupled to the second terminal for receiving the wireless signal. The power generator generates a charging power according to the wireless signal. The battery is coupled to the power generator, and the charging power is provided to charge the battery. The controller is coupled to the switch and generates the mode selecting signal by detecting the electronic apparatus is in a non-operation mode or not.

0010In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the controller detects the electronic apparatus is in the non-operation mode, the controller generates the mode selecting signal to control the switch to transport the wireless signal to the second terminal.

0011In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the controller detects the electronic apparatus is not in the non-operation mode, the controller generates the mode selecting signal to control the switch to transport the wireless to the first terminal.

0012In an embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic apparatus further includes a core circuit, and the core circuit is coupled to the first terminal.

0013In an embodiment of the disclosure, wherein the power generator includes a rectifier and a power manager. The rectifier is coupled to the second terminal, the rectifier receives the wireless signal through the second terminal and rectifies the wireless signal to generate a rectified signal. The power manager is coupled to the rectifier, the power manager receives the rectified signal and converts rectified signal to generate the charging power.

0014In an embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic apparatus further includes a universal serial bus connector. The universal serial bus connector is coupled to the power generator. The universal serial bus connector provides an external power to the power generator.

0015In an embodiment of the disclosure, wherein the power generator is further coupled to the controller for receiving a charging command from the controller. The power generator selects the external power or the charging power to charge the battery according to the charging command.

0016The electronic system includes an accessory and a hand-held electronic apparatus. The accessory provides a wireless signal through a first antenna. The hand-held electronic apparatus includes a second antenna, a switch, a power generator, a battery, and a controller. The second antenna receives a wireless signal. The switch is coupled to the antenna, and receives the wireless signal. The switch transports the wireless signal to a first terminal or a second terminal according to a mode selecting signal. The power generator is coupled to the second terminal for receiving the wireless signal. The power generator generates a charging power according to the wireless signal. The battery is coupled to the power generator, and the charging power is provided to charge the battery. The controller is coupled to the switch and generates the mode selecting signal by detecting the electronic apparatus is in a non-operation mode or not.

0017The charging method is adaptable for an electronic apparatus. The steps of the charging method includes: receiving a wireless signal through an antenna of the electronic apparatus; generating a mode selecting signal by detecting the electronic apparatus being in a non-operation mode or not; transporting the wireless signal to a first terminal or a second terminal according to the mode selecting signal; generating a charging power according to the wireless signal received from the second terminal; and providing the charging power to charge a battery of the electronic apparatus.

0018Accordingly, the electronic apparatus receives the wireless signal from the antenna on the electronic apparatus. That is, the original radio-frequency and charging function can be co-existence. By present disclosure, the electronic apparatus is able have metallic and slim form factor design.

0019It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0020The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of present disclosure.

0022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram of an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

0023<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram of the power generator according to the embodiments mentioned above of present disclosure.

0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a flow chart of a charging method according to an embodiment of present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

0025Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

0026Please referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of present disclosure. The electronic apparatus <b>100</b> includes an antenna ANT, a switch <b>110</b>, a power generator <b>120</b>, battery <b>130</b> and controller <b>140</b>. The antenna ANT is used to receive a wireless signal WS, and the antenna ANT may be a phone, WIFI (Wireless Fi-delity) or GPS (Global Position System) antenna. The wireless signal WS may be a radio-frequency (RF) signal. The switch <b>110</b> is coupled to the antenna ANT, and receives the wireless signal WS form the antenna ANT. The switch <b>110</b> is further coupled to the controller <b>140</b>, and the switch <b>110</b> receives a mode selecting signal CS from the controller <b>140</b>. Moreover, the switch <b>110</b> has a first terminal T<b>1</b> and a second terminal T<b>2</b>, and the switch <b>110</b> transports the wireless signal WS to the first terminal T<b>1</b> or the second terminal T<b>2</b> according to the mode selecting signal CS. The electronic apparatus <b>100</b> may be a hand-held electronic apparatus.

0027The power generator <b>120</b> is coupled to the second terminal T<b>2</b> of the switch <b>110</b>. The power generator <b>120</b> receives the wireless signal WS through the second terminal T<b>2</b> when the switch <b>110</b> transporting the wireless signal WS to the second terminal T<b>2</b>. The power generator <b>120</b> generates a charging power CP according to the wireless signal WS. The charging power CP is provided to the battery <b>130</b>, wherein, the battery <b>130</b> is coupled to the power generator <b>120</b>. The charging power CP is used for charging the battery <b>130</b>.

0028The controller <b>140</b> is coupled to the switch <b>110</b>. The controller <b>140</b> generates the mode selecting signal CS by detecting the electronic apparatus <b>100</b> is in a non-operation mode or not. In detail, when the electronic apparatus <b>100</b> is in the non-operation mode, the mode selecting signal CS generated by the controller <b>140</b> indicates the switch <b>110</b> to transport the wireless signal WS to the second terminal T<b>2</b>. On the contrary, when the electronic apparatus <b>100</b> is not in the non-operation mode, the mode selecting signal CS generated by the controller <b>140</b> indicates the switch <b>110</b> to transport the wireless signal WS to the first terminal T<b>1</b>.

0029Please notice here, the controller <b>140</b> may detect whether the electronic apparatus <b>100</b> is in the non-operation mode or not by a signal receives from an antenna. The signal may be the wireless signal WS received form the antenna ANT, or the signal may be another wireless signal received from another antenna (not illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>). The non-operation mode is a sleep mode, a standby mode, or a function off mode.

0030In detail, when the controller <b>140</b> detects the electronic apparatus <b>100</b> be in the non-operation mode, the controller <b>140</b> generates the mode selecting signal CS and transports the mode selecting signal CS to the switch <b>110</b>. The switch <b>110</b> transports the wireless signal WS received from the antenna ANT to the second terminal T<b>2</b> according to the mode selecting signal CS. Then, the power generator <b>120</b> receives the wireless signal WS through the second terminal T<b>2</b>, and converts the wireless signal WS to the charging power CP. The charging power CP is provided to the battery <b>130</b> for charging. When the electronic apparatus <b>100</b> is no more in the non-operation mode and detected by the controller <b>140</b>, the controller <b>140</b> changes the status of the mode selecting signal CS correspondingly. Moreover, the switch <b>110</b> switches the wireless signal WS to transport to the first terminal T<b>1</b>. Wherein, the first terminal T<b>1</b> is coupled to a core circuit of the electronic apparatus <b>100</b>, and the core circuit is used to operate normal functions (such as phone call) of the electronic apparatus <b>100</b>. The charging operation for the battery <b>130</b> is stopped at this time.

0031Please referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram of an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic system <b>200</b> includes an accessory <b>210</b> and a hand-held electronic apparatus <b>220</b>. The accessory <b>210</b> includes a power supply <b>211</b> and an antenna ANT<b>1</b>. The power supply <b>211</b> is used to receive a voltage VIN and converts the voltage VIN to a wireless signal WS. The wireless signal WS may be transported to the antenna ANT<b>1</b> and the antenna ANT<b>1</b> transports the wireless signal WS out wirelessly. The voltage VIN maybe an alternative current (AC) voltage or a direct current (DC) voltage.

0032The hand-help electronic apparatus <b>220</b> includes an antenna ANT<b>2</b>, a switch <b>221</b>, a power generator <b>222</b>, a battery <b>223</b>, a controller <b>224</b>, a universal serial bus (USB) connector <b>227</b>, and a core circuit <b>229</b>. When the antenna ANT<b>2</b> is coupled to the antenna ANT<b>1</b>, the antenna ANT<b>2</b> receives the wireless signal WS from the antenna ANT<b>1</b>. The switch <b>221</b> is coupled to the antenna T<b>2</b> for receiving the wireless signal WS, and the switch <b>221</b> decides to transport the wireless signal WS to the first terminal T<b>1</b> or the second terminal T<b>2</b> according to the mode selecting signal CS. When the switch <b>221</b> decides to transport the wireless signal WS to the first terminal T<b>1</b>, the wireless signal WS is received by the core circuit <b>229</b>. On the contrary, when the switch <b>221</b> decides to transport the wireless signal WS to the second terminal T<b>2</b>, the wireless signal WS is received by the power generator <b>222</b>. The core circuit <b>229</b> is used to operate the normal functions of the hand-held electronic apparatus <b>220</b>. The power generator <b>222</b> is used to generate a charging power CP according to the wireless signal WS.

0033The controller <b>224</b> is coupled to the switch <b>221</b> and the power generator <b>222</b>. The controller <b>224</b> generates the mode selecting signal CS by detecting whether the hand-held electronic apparatus <b>220</b> is in non-operation mode or not. Furthermore, the controller <b>224</b> further transports a charging command CMD to the power management.

0034Please notice here, the power generator <b>222</b> is further coupled to the USB connector <b>227</b>. The USB connector <b>227</b> may transport an external power EXPS to the power generator <b>222</b>. The power generator <b>222</b> may select one of the external power EXPS and the charging power CP to charge the battery <b>223</b> according to the charging command CMD.

0035In detail, when the USB connector <b>227</b> is connected to an external host, the external host may provide the external power EXPS to the USB connector <b>227</b>. The controller <b>224</b> may detect the connection status of the USB connector <b>227</b>, and the controller <b>224</b> generates the charging command CMD to indicate the power generator <b>222</b> to provide the external power EXPS to charge the battery <b>223</b> when the USB connector <b>227</b> is connecting to the external host. On the contrary, when the USB connector <b>227</b> is isolated from the external host, the controller <b>224</b> may changes the charging command CMD to indicate the power generator <b>222</b> to provide the charging power CP to charge the battery <b>223</b>.

0036Please referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram of the power generator according to the embodiments mentioned above of present disclosure. The power generator <b>300</b> includes a rectifier <b>310</b> and a power manager <b>320</b>. The rectifier <b>310</b> receives the wireless signal WS, and the rectifier <b>310</b> rectifies the wireless signal WS to generate a rectified signal RS. The rectifier <b>310</b> is coupled to the power manager <b>320</b>, and the rectifier <b>310</b> transports the rectified signal RS to the power manager <b>320</b>. The power manager <b>320</b> may convert the rectified signal RS to a charging power CP, and the power manager <b>320</b> may decide to provide the charging power CP to charge a battery.

0037Please referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a flow chart of a charging method according to an embodiment of present disclosure. The charging method is adapted for an electronic apparatus. In step S<b>410</b>, a wireless signal is received through an antenna of the electronic apparatus. A mode selecting signal is generated by detecting whether the electronic apparatus is in a non-operation mode or not, in step S<b>420</b>. Further, in step S<b>430</b>, the wireless signal is transported to a first terminal or a second terminal according to the mode selecting signal, and when the wireless signal is transported to the second terminal, a charging power is generated according to the wireless signal received from the second terminal in step S<b>440</b>. Moreover, the charging power generated in step S<b>440</b> is provided to a battery of the electronic apparatus for charging the battery in step S<b>450</b>.

0038Operation details of the charging method of the present embodiment have been described in detail in the aforementioned embodiment with reference of the electronic apparatus and the electronic system, so that detailed descriptions thereof are not repeated.

0039In summary, in the disclosure of present application, the electronic apparatus receives the wireless signal for charging the battery through the antenna of the electronic apparatus. That is, a coil in the electronic apparatus for charging purpose is not necessary. In this condition, the electronic apparatus is able to have metallic and slim form factor design.

0040It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.